“Paris, it seems, was the beginning of letting go of who I was and grabbing hold of who I was to become.”
If you are looking for a book that will take you to the beautiful streets of Paris, Italy, and Scotland, then Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod is the perfect book for you. This breathtaking novel is based on her personal journey of finding true happiness and love.Â
Janice is on the verge of a burnout. She also realizes that her dream life isn’t the life she wants. She begins to ask herself, how much money does it take to quit your job? With some major lifestyle changes and a lot of determination, Janice is able to save up enough to quit her job and travel around Europe for two years. (sign me up for that!)Â
In Paris, Janice meets the ever so sexy Christophe (imagine Daniel Craig), a butcher who works down the street from where she is staying and doesn’t speak English. Through a combination of sign language and franglais, the two start a romance that could only happen in the City of Love. Janice soon realizes that she can’t go back to her old life, especially one that doesn’t have Christophe in it. She combines her love of words and art to start up a painted letter subscription that showcases the magnificent culture and beauty that can only be found in the streets of Paris.Â
I love travel books, and travel books with a splash of romance are even better. I couldn’t put this book down; I got swept into Janice’s story right from page one. Reading about her traveling experiences reminded me of my trips to Europe. I laughed-out-loud when she wrote about her trials with the toilet in her hotel room “Thirty flushes doth not a working toilet make.” Janice did a fantastic job taking readers to the street of Paris; it was like I was there with her seeing, hearing, and smelling all that Paris has to offer.Â
The relationship between Janice and Christophe is sweet, warm, and oh so cute. It was endearing watching as they tried to find ways to communicate with each other. I loved the simplicity of their relationship and their lifestyle. It reinforces this notion that you don’t need to have a big flashy life to be happy or find true love – a message that I find so important in today’s high-demanding and fast-paced world.Â
This book is perfect for those who want to escape to the streets of Paris and follow Janice on her remarkable journey of finding happiness. This book is as light and fluffy as a Parisian pastry.
Looking for more books set in dreamy destinations? Try our list Take Me Away!